On the pod I think I’ve talked about the concept of holding two competing ideas in your head at once even though they contradict each other, well that’s kinda where we are with the duality of the Tee franchise tag situation. We’ve been talking about it for a full year and I still haven’t really decided what the correct course is. I mean, in my heart of hearts I know what I want. But it’s sort of a, ‘god that Big Buford would really hit right now’, versus ‘that juicy, delicious, sauced up affordable cheeseburger is bad for your health!’ Do you want to watch one more year of Tee and Ja’Marr and Burrow making it nigh impossible to stop the offense when it’s fully clicking, or is the rational side of your brain screaming, “TRADE HIM FOR PICKS! WE CAN’T LET HIM WALK FOR NOTHING!” Both sides are right, just depends on what vantage you have of the prism. And honestly, I think fans should be able to be selfish and in the moment by saying I want more Tee on the Bengals, the future be damned, and not have the savvy serious folk intone that you’re a sweet summer child for not trying to flip him for picks.
Here’s where I’m at: I don’t think it’s particularly enjoyable to only think about cap numbers and the draft and roster construction. Seems like a miserable way to consume sports. I think it’s more fun to not worry about shit as a fan. I don’t give a fuck what the Benagls cap number is, I just want them to be good next year. We can figure out the down the road shit…down the road. Each season is its own story, it has its own narrative arc, and when one season is unfolding, I think people should just enjoy it. So for next season I would like Tee to still be a Bengal because that will make the viewing experience more enjoyable to me, the center of my own universe.
I mean, I kinda omitted the obvious solution to all this, which is that they could have handed Tee a long term contract and figured the rest out later. But…the Mike Brown family and his shifty doppelganger son and meh daughter and Jos A Bank Suit salesman lookin ass son-in-law always cry poor when it comes to ponying up. Kinda an aside but I blame fantasy football for the rise of the fan that would rather be the GM than one of the players. Too many excel-heads out there. Like why ever take Mike Brown’s side when it comes to players getting paid. Why ever say that someone is overpaid? Stop pocket watching. Get your own numbers up. Where was I though, oh yeah, I guess what I’m trying to say is that it’s cool if you want Tee for one more year, and it’s also cool if you think you have to trade him for the future posterity of the team. Just don’t talk to me about it though, cause I want more Tee as a Bengal, consequences be damned.
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